Islam and Politics in the Contemporary World

Beverley Milton-Edwards is Reader at the Centre for the Study of Ethnic Conflict, Queens University, Belfast

“A very well written ... and sober analysis of the varied forms of political Islam within the similarly varied political, economic and social contexts across the societies of the contemporary world.”British Journal of Sociology “In this scholarly yet highly accessible book, Milton-Edwards sheds light on some of the enduring debates about the nature of Islam and politics and examines the nuances of sociopolitical structures in the Muslim world ... A welcome addition to the literature on Islam and politics, especially useful as an introductory textbook on the subject.”Choice“Illuminates the great variety of debates that animate Islamic politics today. Rejecting the view that it is simply a reaction against the West, the book relates Islamic politics to the diversity and urgency of the political predicaments that Muslim communities face.”Timothy Mitchell, New York University“This book’s clear, thoughtful perspective draws our attention to the mutual constitution of the conflicts that exist between politically assertive Muslim groups, and the national and global structures of power and culture in which they operate.”Gregory Starrett, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

• Preface. Introduction.1. Islam and Politics Defined.2. Islam and the State.3. Politics of Protest.4. The Democracy Debate: Intractable Paths?.5. Bringing Down the Barricade: The Gender Debate.6. Gun Barell Politics: Islam and Political Violence.7. The Making of Mutual Antagonism: Islam and the West.Conclusion: Islam and Politics A Twenty-First Century Challenge.Glossary.Bibliograph.Index